FAQs

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Pollution, Firewater and Flood Facts and Figures The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009 Full title: 2009 No. 153, Environmental Protection, England, The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009, enforced March 1st 2009. is the official UK instrument that encompasses the requirements of the Environmental Liability Directive. A full copy of the document can be downloaded from the Office of Public Sector Information Website.OPSI Web Link

Environmental Liability Directive 2004/35/EC In summary this new legislation applies the ‘polluter pays’ principle, to prevent and remedy environmental damage. It applies to all businesses large and small alike with unlimited fines and remediation costs. Directors can also be imprisoned for negligence under the Directive. Note there is specific mention in the Directive that companies are obliged to use proactive prevention techniques and this fact has resulted in spill and firewater containment becoming a key part of a companies ISO14001 compliance audit.

Spill Kits ­ why are they of limited use for spill containment? The answer is simple! Spill kits have a very limited capacity to absorb a major spill, they are not­ recyclable and once used often are expensive to dispose of as they constitute hazardous waste. Converting the drainage system into a containment vessel enables the spill to be captured and drastically reduces the contaminated surface area. In many cases the contained spill can then be re­ cycled using a vacuum pump and filters, a major win­win!

Major Accident Hazards Bureau (MAHB) The MAHB gives scientific and technical support to the European Directorate General of the European Commission in support of the 96/82/EC Directive,the Seveso II Directive.

Adblue The haulage industry regularly uses catalytic reduction agents such as Adblue to make their vehicles comply with the Euro 4 standards. These agents are soluble and if spilt can cause serious damage to the environment. The Environment Agency in November 2009 issued an notice concerning the handling and storing of Adblue which states clearly that site operators must have adequate spill


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